A public meeting will be held next week to discuss the Steiner School planning application on the old Victoria Hospital site in Frome.

The meeting has been organised by Frome Town Council and will be held at the Assembly Rooms, on Wednesday from 7pm.

The town council said there have been mixed reactions to the school’s presence.

Leader Mel Usher said: “The Steiner School has raised a lot of interest in the town. Some people are delighted that a new school with a different approach to education provides choice to parents, the promise of new jobs and a new well-designed use for a large prominent redundant site.

“Others are concerned that traffic congestion on Park Road and surrounding roads will increase, that other schools in the town will lose pupils and income and that Victoria Park will suffer.

“Therefore, the council is inviting people from across the community to come together to discuss these opportunities and threats.”

The school is currently being housed at the former Corsley School.

Mr Usher said: “The establishment of a new school is an important issue in a town of this size. A development like this will affect many people.

“It is much more than a simple planning application and we felt that there has been limited opportunity for interested parties to come together to explore and at least understand each other’s views.

“There will be no decision on a recommendation on the night, the exercise will help to inform visitors and the town councillors who will have to make a recommendation.

“We will be utilising the services of a skilled facilitator to enable everyone to express their views equally and experts will be on hand to answer any questions of fact.”

A decision on the planning application will be made by Mendip District Council. It is advised that people book to attend the meeting due to limited space.

Anyone who would like to attend should call Laura Poulton on 01373 475576 or email poultonl@from-tc.gov.uk.